MG ZR 160 First Track Car?

[Tuscan63]

Hi guys, so after finishing uni doing automotive engineering and getting my first proper job I treated myself to Fiesta ST (Lease deals where too dam good) I have found the love of cars again (A 4 Year automotive degree is enough to kill any passion you had for them!!!) so am considering the possibility of a CHEAP track car.

I had considered the usuals:
MX5 - Cheap, RWD, great handling, but underpowered and a soft top
E36 - RWD, Enough power to start with, more expensive for both car and parts, heavy
Clio 172 - More Expensive, Great handling, Good Power, Light weight

BUT then i saw a ZR 160.
Lightweight, pretty good handling, bloody cheap circa 500 for car, strip it and people have said it can get down to around 800 kilos and another 500 for some decent suspension, decent power, but the fabled k Series *hides*

Thoughts? As I said I need it to be cheap to even consider (or at least start cheap then ignore all the bills as they mount up)

[Dan Friel]

Would be a good project.. Lots of cheap parts.

Mgs on track also run a series of track days at very good rates and at excellent venues.

[HorneyMX5]

Get a ZS180 instead. Civic underpinnings mean excellent (and upgradable) handling and a V6.

[captainsl0w]

I would set the budget higher, even then expect to pay a reasonable sum making it perfectly safe and in strong shape for track use, let alone what you might want to spend on top modifying. Track safe is a definite cut above what passes for the roads.

You are trusting not only your safety but your life to it after all. Those of us who have crashed on track will understand

[Tuscan63]

Hadn't considered the Zs 180 but having a look seems they can be bought for similar money. Have a nice v6 with 200 bhp being fairly easy to obtain as well. Also only slightly heavier.

Yeah I would be making sure it is safe and won't be buying something that is obviously not fit for the road let alone the track. May even cage it down the line but at first I don'tthink it is necessary. A well mounted seats and proper harness set up with ahold helmet should suffice.

[YellowZed]

Hi Tuscan,

I run a ZR 160 as a track car and its a barrel load of fun. You don't really need to do much to it initially but if you really get into it then the Brake fluid is my starting point, put some good DOT 5.1 into it and that will cut down on the brake fade.

That's pretty much all I've done to mine (aside from Greenstuff pads and a camera mount). I use MGs on Track for the track days and find it to be well run and a friendly bunch. You get a good mix of cars out on track which a ZR or ZS will be on a par with. I did Silverstone with them and had a blast!!

I hope to see you out on track soon!